Willem Coucheron

Infobox Military Person
name= Willem Coucheron


caption=
allegiance=Denmark-Norway
rank= colonel
commands=captain of the Valdres company
colonel of the Coucheron regiment,
commandant of Marstrand
commandant at Bergenhus fortress
unit=
family=
nickname=
lived= ?-1689
placeofbirth= Holland
currentlyresides=
serviceyears=
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Willem Coucheron (or "Wyllem Coucheron") was a Dutch-born Dano-Norwegian quartermaster general. He was sent to Copenhagen to present plans for a new defensive work for Halden. These plans were approved by the king on July 28, 1660. [Norsk Biografisk Leksikon , bind 3] He began the construction of the fortifications at Fredrikstad, Norway in 1663. Together with his son Anthony Coucheron, he worked on the fortification which became known as Fredriksten fortress in Halden. The defensive walls, built to the Dutch design of the period, were so effective a deterrent that the town was never invaded.

Coucheron was an engineer and quartermaster general in 1657, captain of the Valdres company & colonel of the Coucheron regiment in 1676, commandant of Marstrand 1677-79 and commandant at Bergenhus fortress from 1680.

Coucheron died at Bergenhus June 20, 1689.

References

*V.E. Tychsen: "Fortifikations-Etaterne og Ingeniørkorpset", 1884
*Chr. Elling: "Holmens Bygningshistorie", 1932
*"Norske Minnesmerker, Fredrikstad", 1934
*J. Klindt Jensen: "Barokken i Rønne Fæstning", 1952
*H. Langberg: "Danmarks Bygningskultur I", 1955
*V. Steen Møller: "Frederiksvern", 1973
*H.E. Nørregård-Nielsen i: "Magtens Bolig" (Danm. Ark.), 1980
*"Norsk Kunstnerleksikon", Oslo 1981
*Kjeld Magnussen: "Foren. til norske Fortidsminners Bevaring", Årsbok 1985
*P. Bolten Jagd: "Danske Forsvarsanlæg I", 1986
*"Huse i Fr.havn", 1986